Fingerprinting 490 Final

Ancient use of Fingerprints

Babylon (2000 B.C.)• Archaeologists have discovered evidence showing fingerprints were used on clay tablets• Prints were considered a unique signature or mark

China (221 B.C.)• In ancient China, fingerprints were also used as a form of identification on legald ocuments• It was a common practice to"sign" documents using the fingers or palm.

FIngerprinting in 1902

United States first using fingerprints as a means of ID

Fingerprinting in 1915

International association for identification was founded

William Herschel

Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India

Fingerprints are unique

Henry Faulds

claimed that fingerprints did not change over time and that they could be classified for identification

Sir Francis Galton

Coined eugneics, discovered loops, arches, whorls

Juan Vuccitch

Fingerprinting methodology called dactyloscopy

Sir Edward Henry

brought Bertillion system to Bengal, assigned numerical values to fingers

Henry DeForest

First systematic use of fingerprinting in the US 1902, established practice of fingerprinting on civil service applications in NY

Bertillion

System of ID by measuring body parts

Will West Case

A case in which two inmates so closely resembled each other in physical characteristics that the traditional Bertillon method of identification was discredited.

Volar skin

contains friction ridge detail, textured surface on hands and feet

friction ridge detail

Developed in-utero•

During 8th-10th week of gestation• Fully developed at 6 months• Persistent throughout one's lifetime•

Barring permanent scarring• Decomposition after death

Will lean in same direction pressure is applied

Permanent and unique

Harold Cummins

found that the location and growth of the volar pad affected the friction ridge development and pattern configuration

high volar pad

High-centered pads are believed to form whorl-type patterns

intermediate volar pads

Intermediate pads with a trend are believed to form loop-type patterns.

low volar pads

• Low volar pads tend to form arch or low count loop patterns and can be the result of a disturbance during fetal formation.

Hand is divided into twelve regions

-5 digits

-4 interdigital areas

-Thenar side(T)

-Hypothenarside(H)

-Central Area(C)

primary ridges

Ridge formations found directly under surface friction ridges• Mirror the surface ridge and contain pore structures

Epidermis

Outer layer of the skin• Made up of several layers of skin cells

Generating layer: deepest layer of cells in epidermis next to dermis called basal layer

basal layer

template of fingerprint

Dermis

Inner layer of the friction skin• Loose connective tissue composed of fibrous proteins.• Vascular with numerous blood vessels, lymphatics,various glands and tactile nerves

"true skin"

injury/disease that penetrates the skin to the dermal layer can damage and may leave scar (damages generative layer)

latent print

also known as crime scene prints. These are hidden fingerprints often found at the scene of a crime and need to be developed so they are visible

98-99% moisture

patent print

a visible print. The friction ridge detail is visible due to some type of transfer medium such as blood, ink, or paint

plastic print

also referred to as impressed prints. Friction ridge detail is idented into soft pliable such as wax, wet paint, butter, or gum. These types of prints are three-dimensional

known prints

also referred to as exemplar prints. These are intentional prints collected from aperson typically using ink, black fingerprint powder, or livescan.

10 print card

critical areas of a fingerprint

delta, core

delta

point on a ridge at or nearest to the point of divergence (tri-radius)

core

approximate center of a fingerprint pattern

arch

plain, tented arches. 5% of people have

No deltas or cores

The ridges enter from one side of the finger, rise in the center, and exit out the other side of the finger

tented arch

The rise in the center is more pronounced and has a "tent-like" peak

plain arch

Ridges flow smoothly with a gentle rise in the center

whorl

plain, double loop, central pocket, accidental. 30% of people have

Whorls have at least two deltas

Each delta will have a recurve in front of it

plain whorl

One or more ridge that make a complete circle or circuit

double loop whorl

Two separate loop formations that intertwine

central pocket loop whorl

One or more ridges that make a complete circuit, but it includes a loop in the enclosed area

accidental whorl

Multiple whorl types within one pattern that does not fit into one of the sub-pattern types above

loop

65% of people have,

Only one delta

A ridge that goes out or tends to go out the same side fromwhich it entered

At least one ridge that crosses a line drawn between thecore and the delta

left slant loop

right slant loop

radial loop

ridges come from the thumb side (radial bone) recurve and go out same side

Loop opens towards the thumb side of the hand

ulnar loop

ridges flow towards the little finger or "ulnar side" of the hand Ulnar loops are more common than radial loops

ridge characteristics (minutiae)

ridge flow

1st level of detail: Overall ridge flow General morphology Pattern interpretation Determine anatomical source and orientation Not used to individualize

ridge path

2nd level of detail: Ridge path deviation Absence of ridge path deviation (continuous ridge) - minutiae

ridge shapes

Occasional" Features Ridge shape Creases Pore location Temporary injuries Permanent scars

Factors that affect how prints are deposited

Amount of contact/time Condition of the surface or object Textured Smooth Clean Dirty Environment Windy Hot Wet

Black, bi-chromatic, gray, white, or silver powder

Used on the majority of surfaces Color of powder used depends on the color of the surface (contrast)

Black, bi-chromatic, or silver magnetic powder

Used on glossy surfaces; glass, tile, and plastics Used on waxy surfaces; drink cups, magazine covers, and some typesof fruit Can be used to expose "indented writing"

Deposition factors (prints)

Sufficient residue (matrix)•

Suitable surface•

Manner of contact/touch

•Environmental condition

non-porous surfaces sequential processing

glass, aluminum cans,plastics, metals, high-gloss or wax-coated paper orcups, varnished wood, firearms, and cartridges

1. CAE (superglue fuming)

2. Powder

3. Solution Stain (Rhodamine 6G and/or RAM)

porous surfaces sequential processing

Currency

1. DFO

2. Physical developer (PD)

3. Ninhydrin can be used on "newer" currency after DFObut before PD.

Cardboard, paper items, and wallboard

1. DFO

2. Ninhydrin

3. DFO - If the ninhydrin prints are faint, then DFO canbe used to possibly enhance the print detail.

4. Physical developer

Eosin Y

Eosin Y is a dye solution which binds to the protein molecules in blood to yield a colored complex.

CYANOACRYLATE FUMING

Vapors containing cyanoacrylate ester react with the moisture andoils present in latent prints to form a white, relatively stable polymer

Dye stains

Used post superglue fuming

Apply RAM solution with a wash bottle for "squirt"application, or in a glass dish for "dip" application. Air Dry

Rho-6

Lumicyano

removes the post-processing stage of dyeing or dustingwith powder After the fumigation cycle, the latent marks willfluorescent under forensic lightning.

Ninhydrin

reacts with amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, to forma reddish-purple compound. Proteins and amino acids are secreted by thepores found in friction ridge skin.

DIAZAFLUOREN-9-ONE (DFO)

DFO causes amino acids present in latent residue tofluoresce when illuminated with LASER/ALS

Wet wop

Wetwop is a pre-mixed powder suspension solution used forrecovering fingerprints on adhesive surfaces. Wetwop adheres to thefingerprint residue without adhering to or painting the background.

Sticky side powder

It is applied to the adhesive side of tapewith a camelhair brush and allowed to setfor 10-15 seconds. It may be left on longeror rinsed off sooner. It may be reapplied, ifdesired.

Physical Developer

PD reacts with components of sweat (sebaceous secretions) toform a gray/silver deposit.

The process is normally used on paper but can also be appliedto other porous materials

Sudan blackdye stain.

dye stain. It will adhere to ridgedetail contaminated with greasy or sticky substances. It can be used to enhance superglue-developed evidence prints. The stained print willbe a blue-black color.

non-porous surfaces

Small particle reagent

detect latent prints on wet or sticky non-porous surfaces

adheres to the fats present inthe latent print residue.

Leucocrystal violet (LCV)

When LCVand hydrogen peroxide come into contact with hemoglobin or its derivatives, a violet-colored dye (crystal violet) is formed.

Amido black

general protein stain. Amido black solution is used tocreate contrast with the background by staining the proteins present inbloody evidence prints (fingerprints / shoeprints / tire tracks)

Acid yellow

detect latent prints made with blood-contaminated fingers/palms on dark-colored, non- porous and semi-porous surfaces by ALS examination

ACE-V

Analysis: Information gathering, Suitability for comparison, Orientation

Comparison: side by side, use reference points/ target group

Evaluation: identification, exclusion, inconclusive

Verification: Second examiner to confirm

International Association for Identification Standards

Perform duties with honesty and impartiality.

Avoid overstating or understating findings

Maintain professional competence

Work within the limits of their expertise.

Clearly communicate findings

Acknowledge limitations

Avoid conflicts of interest.

Resist pressure to conform

Avoid misrepresentation

Be prepared for cross-examination.

Report unethical behavior.

Take responsibility for mistakes

Follow validated procedures

People v Crispi

Court allowed the fingerprint evidence which made this a pivotal decision as this demonstrated acceptance of the scientific method

Defendant was convicted on the latent print evidence

This case set precedence for the admissibility of fingerprint evidence into court